The first scheduled flights to Chișinău started on 24 June 1926, on the route Bucharest–Galați–Chișinău and Iași. The flights were operated byCFRNA, later LARES. A commemorative plaque, describing the first flight to Chișinău, was placed in the airport. The main terminal was built in the 1970s, with a capacity of 1,200,000 passengers per year.
On 31 May 1995, Chișinău Airport was awarded the status of an international airport. In 2002, following works by the Turkish company Akfen Holding, the airport was modernized. An annex terminal building with an area of was added to the renovated old terminal building of. The project covered construction of curtain walls, composite panels, asphalt road, a treatment plant with a capacity of a day, complete mechanical heating, ventilation and electrical systems, along with the X-ray security, luggage handling, master clock, and flight information systems. The annual capacity of the airport had increased to 5.4 million passengers. Chișinău International Airport is a member of Airports Council International.
Future plans
There are plans to enlarge the airport. The project involves €19 million loan to Chișinău International Airport for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the existing runway, taxiways, aprons, and ramps, engineering works, safety equipment and other connected core assets of Chișinău International Airport. The European Investment Bank is considering co-financing alongside the EBRD for up to an equal amount.
Facilities
There were ten check-in desks and five gates at the airport in 2009. VIP and CIP guests are offered special services at the VIP terminal. A visitors' terrace in the second floor opened in December 2006. Previously passengers had to present their passport, ticket and their registration. Passengers were allowed in the check-in hall. With the introduction of e-tickets and the abolition of the registration for foreigners the airport reorganized in late 2006. This resulted in a bigger check-in hall and customs control is now after check-in. Towards the end of 2017, plans for a second runway were unveiled. This runway would take the place of the current taxiway just north of the existing runway. The project began in early 2017. Runway 09–27 started operations on 13 September 2018.
There are bus and trolleybus lines and rutierele frequently departing from the airport. Rutieră line 165 passes through the Botanica district and continues to the city center. The 'AEROGARA' bus departs from Piața D. Cantemir and has intermediate stops in the city center on Stefan Cel Mare street. It also stops at the central railway station 'GARA' bus station. A trolleybus bus with the route 30 operates with a 20-minute interval from June 2017. This is different from rutierele, which may stop at any time, given the driver is notified a few seconds prior.
